Properties Of Layers Research Articles

Geomechanical risk assessment for CO2 storage in deep saline aquifers

We study CO2 injection into a saline aquifer intersected by a tectonic fault using a coupled modeling approach to evaluate potential geomechanical risks. The simulation approach integrates the reservoir and mechanical simulators through a data transfer algorithm. MUFITS simulates non-isothermal multiphase flow in the reservoir, while FLAC3D calculates its mechanical equilibrium state. We accurately describe the tectonic fault, which consists of damage and core zones, and derive novel analytical closure relations governing the permeability alteration in the fault zone. We estimate the permeability of the activated fracture network in the damage zone and calculate the permeability of the main crack in the fault core, which opens on asperities due to slip. The coupled model is applied to simulate CO2 injection into synthetic and realistic reservoirs. In the synthetic reservoir model, we examine the impact of formation depth and initial tectonic stresses on geomechanical risks. Pronounced tectonic stresses lead to inelastic deformations in the fault zone. Regardless of the magnitude of tectonic stress, slip along the fault plane occurs, and the main crack in the fault core opens on asperities, causing CO2 leakage out of the storage aquifer. In the realistic reservoir model, we demonstrate that sufficiently high bottomhole pressure induces plastic deformations in the near-wellbore zone, interpreted as rock fracturing, without slippage along the fault plane. We perform a sensitivity analysis of the coupled model, varying the mechanical and flow properties of the storage layers and fault zone to assess fault stability and associated geomechanical risks.

Assessment of effective electrical conductivity in spherocylindrical carbon nanotube composites incorporating intrinsic properties of CNTs and interphase layer

This study introduces an analytical model using mean-field theory to estimate the effective electrical conductivity in composites of spherocylindrical carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The model adjusts the interphase layer's thickness and conductivity based on CNT concentration, affecting the electrical tunneling effect, and incorporates the properties of both CNTs and the interphase layer. Validated through detailed comparisons with experimental data, the model accurately predicts the electrical conductivities of polymer-CNT composites (PCNTs). Mean Squared Error analysis highlights its enhanced precision and superiority over traditional cylindrical CNT models. The model also explores how CNT dimensions, intrinsic conductivity, tunneling distance, potential barrier height, and variations in interphase thickness and conductivity influence electrical conductivity and percolation thresholds. This analytical model improves accuracy in predicting PCNT electrical conductivity and provides critical insights for designing and optimizing conductive polymer nanocomposites.

Formation and properties of nitrided layer on 2205 duplex stainless steel by anodic plasma-nitriding assisted with hollow cathode discharge

2205 duplex stainless steel (2205DSS) was nitrided at 420 °C by plasma nitriding in an ammonia atmosphere under anodic potential. The nitrided layer was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The impact of the nitrided layer on the corrosion and wear resistance of 2205DSS was evaluated through electrochemical polarization tests and pin-on-disc wear experiments. The results revealed that nitrogen-expanded austenite was formed on the substrate, and the nitrided layer developed on the samples nitrided for 4 and 10 h enhanced both the corrosion and wear resistance of 2205DSS.

Saturation and absorption effects on the transmission properties of Kerr-type nonlinear layers

The effects of absorption and saturation on soliton states in Kerr-type nonlinear layers are theoretically investigated. In addition to the usual gray and bright soliton structures observed in nonlinear slabs, a flat soliton, i.e., a particular soliton excitation with electric field amplitude independent of the position within the layer, is researched in cases of self-defocusing and self-focusing nonlinearities. Effects caused by the combination of absorption and saturation, such as the shift and extinction of the flat soliton peak, the decrease in the amplitude of the electric field within the nonlinear layer, and the suppression of the multistable behavior of the transmission coefficient in the vicinity of the soliton peaks, are discussed. The present theoretical results are compared and found in good quantitative agreement with previous experimental measurements.Graphical

Optimization of Optical Biosensor Based on 1D Photonic Crystals with Metaheuristic Algorithms for Measuring Glucose Concentration

We aim to simulate an optimal optical biosensor based on one-dimensional crystal photonics, for measuring blood and urine glucose concentration. By optimizing the sensor structure through metaheuristic optimization algorithms, sensitivity was increased. To measure blood and urine glucose concentration, these materials are used as a defect layer in one-dimensional crystal photonics, consisting of three materials: magnesium fluoride (MgF2), borosilicate glass (BK7), and orphan iodide (LiI) with refractive indices of 37/1, 1/5, and 1/99. By changing the concentration of glucose, the refractive index of the defect layer changes, changing the optical properties of the defect layer in the photonic crystal and the spectrum of transmitted and reflected light. According to the amount of light absorption by glucose, a wavelength range of 900–2200 nm (near infrared) was used as the input light. The transfer matrix method was used to calculate multi-layer systems. This method is based on the definition of two matrices, the boundary matrix and the diffusion matrix, which can be used to directly apply the boundary conditions. By plotting the spectrum passing through the crystal using the transfer matrix method and determining the location of the peak in the spectrum, the sensitivity of the sensor was calculated for different concentrations of glucose in blood and urine. The sensitivity obtained before optimization was 530 nm RIU−1, while after optimization it reached 842 nm RIU−1.

Permeability and barrier layer properties of a woven carbon fibre polymer composite as battery packaging

Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates are used in various studies as Li-ion polymer (LiPo) battery packaging. However, their suitability as a packaging material is not well understood. The present study investigates the liquid absorption (water and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonic)imide (LiTFSI) electrolyte immersion tests) and barrier layer properties (water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) and oxygen transmission rate (OTR) tests) of a 200 gsm woven CFRP laminate to assess its suitability as a battery packaging material. This is the first study to show that prolonged immersion in battery electrolyte does not change the mechanical properties of a woven CFRP laminate. Hence, the CFRP laminate may be suitable for structural battery components, such as current collectors and electrodes. However, CFRP should not be used as battery packaging, as OTR and WVTR values of the CFRP laminate were found to be five and one order of magnitudes higher than typical battery pouch materials (i.e. aluminium foil), respectively.

Surface microstructuring of hot-rolled carbon structural steels under complex exposure to laser radiation

The purpose of the work was to study the effect of laser microstructuring modes of the cutting edge on changes in the structure and mechanical properties of the surface layer of parts made of hot-rolled structural carbon steels grades 20, 35, 45. Methods. Structural carbon steels of grades 20, 35, 45 were selected as objects of research. To study the effect of laser modification on changing the structure and mechanical properties of machine parts using laser cutting, special samples were made in the form of square plates (35×35 mm) with a thickness of 2 mm (St20 and St45) and 4 mm (St35). After laser cutting according to the modes, one of the sides of the sample was subjected to mechanical grinding in order to remove a layer with a modified structure of the material obtained during laser cutting. Next, laser microstructuring of the sample surfaces was performed using a continuous fiber laser. Metallographic and durometric studies were carried out to study the effect of laser microstructuring on changes in the structure and properties of the surface layer. Results. The regularities of the structure of the zone of laser action of structural carbon steels after laser microstructuring have been revealed, which consists of two layers: a non-etching (slightly etching) white layer, which is a finely dispersed martensite of a needle structure and immediately following it a zone of thermal influence, which, depending on the carbon content in the steel, has a different structure: ferrite-pearlite, martensitic, troostomartensitic, martensiticpearlitic. It has been established that laser microstructuring of a pre-polished surface in some cases leads to an increase in the values of microhardness and the length of the laser exposure zone, which may be associated with an increase in the absorption capacity of the material of the polished surface and, accordingly, a decrease in its reflectivity. Conclusion. The results obtained can be used in the creation of resource-saving material processing processes.

Theoretical Investigation of Transport Properties of X-doped (X = Cl, P, N) Graphene Quantum Dots Layer Adsorbed with Ammonia Molecule Using Non-Equilibrium Green’s Function

This study investigates the various transport properties, including Density of States (DOS), Transmission Coefficient, Current-Voltage Characteristics (I-V), and HOMO-LUMO energy levels, of X-doped (X = Cl, P, N) graphene quantum dot (GQD) layers with adsorbed ammonia molecules using density functional theory and non-equilibrium Green's function techniques. Our findings revealed the profound influence of different doping and adsorption scenarios on the transport properties of GQD layers. Specifically, chlorine doping leads to notably stronger resonance peaks, resulting in enhanced conductivity of the GQD layer. This effect is less pronounced for P-doped and N-doped GQDs, which exhibit minimal changes in conductance capability. Importantly, we observed a prominent interaction between ammonia molecules and chlorine-doped GQD layers. The HOMO and LUMO energy levels exhibit double degeneracy, significantly impacting edge passivation and the finite dimensions of GQDs, consequently reducing the energy gap. As a result, chlorine-doped GQD layers with adsorbed ammonia molecules exhibit increased energy levels and stronger current characteristics compared to P-GQDs and N-GQDs. HOMO and LUMO are doubly degenerated which has a clear effect on edge passivation as well as the finite size of GQDs and reduces energy gap. Therefore, more energy level and stronger current is available for chlorine doped graphene quantum dots layer with adsorbed ammonia molecule than P-GQDs and N-GQDs. Our theoretical finding highlighted the significant features of edge passivation, doping effect and adsorption of ammonia molecule onto graphene quantum dots layer. Our theoretical analysis highlighted key features encompassing edge passivation, doping effects, and ammonia molecule adsorption on GQD layers. These insights not only develop our fundamental understanding of these systems but also hold promise for novel applications that harness their distinct electronic properties.

Development of hydrogen-selective TiOxNy-Pd composite membrane materials by atomic layer deposition

This work reports on novel hydrogen (H2) selective membrane composed of TiOxNy-Pd nanocomposite thin films prepared by Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) on asymmetric porous alumina supports. The nanocomposite combines the robustness of a ceramic matrix, selective gas barrier properties of TiOxNy thin layer and specific H2 sorption/affinity of palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs). Precise control of the thickness and chemical composition of TiOxNy-Pd layer enables to achieve promising H2 selectivities (αH2/N2≈35 and αH2/He≈7) with permeances πH2≈228GPU at 390 °C. At this temperature, TiOxNy crystallites start to form in the initially near-amorphous layer and allow selective transport of H atoms generated during the adsorption-dissociation of H2 on the Pd NPs. This study clearly stresses the effectiveness of ALD in the formation of dense H2-permselective membranes while significantly limiting the production costs by reducing the content of expensive elements, such as Pd. Finally, thanks to the versatility of the ALD technique, the present strategy could be extended to other rational design for applications requiring gas separation or detection.

Conical indentation over a transversely isotropic and layered elastic half-space

We propose a novel method for solving the static response of a conical indenter on a transversely isotropic and layered elastic half-space. The newly developed Fourier-Bessel series (FBS) system of vector functions, along with the unconditionally stable dual-variable and position method, is employed to derive the Green's function in the transversely isotropic and layered elastic half-space under a vertical ring load on the surface. To calculate the response at different field points on the surface, we apply discrete love numbers within the FBS vector system. The load densities in the discretized rings within the contact radius of the conical indenter are determined using the integral least-square method, along with a self-adaptive algorithm developed in this study. Finally, the relationship between the indentation depth (vertical displacement) and the applied load is obtained through force balance between the external load and the summed contact traction. The developed scheme is validated using existing exact solutions for the reduced homogeneous half-space case. Selected numerical results clearly demonstrate the effect of anisotropic material and layering on the indentation response. It is observed that, regardless of whether the structure is a stratified half-space or a layered structure with a rigid substrate, the material properties in the top layer have the most significant influence on the indentation behavior. In the case of a layered structure with an underlying elastic half-space, the material properties in the interlayer and bottom layer could also affect the indentation behaviors.

Response of N, P, and metal ions in deep soil layers to long-term cultivation of rubber and rubber-based agroforestry systems

The growing demand for natural rubber products has driven the expansion of rubber plantations in recent decades. While much attention has been given to studying the long-term effects of rubber and rubber-based agroforestry systems on surface soil properties, there has been a tendency to overlook changes in soil properties in deeper layers. Our study addresses this gap by examining alterations in nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and metal ion levels in deep soil layers resulting from the prolonged cultivation of rubber and rubber-based agroforestry systems. We found notable shifts in soil NH4+ and NO3− concentrations within the 0–30 cm soil layer across different-aged rubber and rubber-based agroforestry systems. Particularly in mature systems, NO3− and available P levels were close to zero below 30 cm soil depth. Introducing Flemingia macrophylla into young rubber plantations increased soil NH4+ and NO3− in the 0–90 cm soil layer and available P in the 0–10 cm soil layer. Over the long term, cultivation of rubber plantations increased the depletion of total P in the 0–50 cm soil layer, available iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in the 30–90 cm soil layer, available copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the 0–90 cm soil layer, accompanied by a decrease in soil pH and increase in exchangeable aluminum (Al) in the 0–90 cm soil layer. Notably, soil exchangeable Al levels exceeding 2.0 cmol kg−1 appeared to induce aluminum toxicity. Furthermore, soil pH below 5.2 triggered a sharp release of exchangeable Al within the 0–90 cm soil layer of rubber plantations, with soil available P nearing zero when exchangeable Al levels assed 7.3 cmol kg−1. Our findings underscore the profound impact of long-term rubber plantation cultivation on surface and deep soil properties. Addressing soil degradation in these deep soil layers poses significant challenges for future soil restoration efforts.

Effects of Final Root Canal Irrigants in Conventional and Regenerative Endodontic Treatments: A Systematic Review

Background: The effectiveness of final root canal irrigants is crucial for successful conventional and regenerative endodontic treatments. This study aimed to systematically review the impact of final irrigants on dentin, disinfection, and regenerative potential in endodontic therapies. Methods: MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were electronically searched for articles on final irrigants in conventional and regenerative endodontics, evaluating effects on dentin, smear layer, fracture resistance, stem cells, growth factors, and antimicrobial properties. The risk of bias was assessed using the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation risk of bias tool. Results: Overall, 25 eligible studies were included in this review after screening 2842 articles. Commonly assessed irrigants included ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (21 studies), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl; 12 studies), and citric acid (6 studies). EDTA could enhance growth factors but could weaken dentin. NaOCl affected dentin despite its antimicrobial benefits. Nanoparticles, chitosan, peracetic acid (PAA), and citric acid showed potential benefits. A meta-analysis was not performed due to methodological heterogeneity. Conclusion: In general, optimized irrigation strategies balancing disinfection, biocompatibility, and regenerative potential are necessary. More research is required to develop improved irrigation protocols. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42023420406.

Chitosan-Surfactant Composite Nanocoatings on Glass and Zinc Surfaces Prepared from Aqueous Solutions.

Hydrophobic coatings from chitosan-surfactant composites (ca. 400 nm thick by UV-Vis spectroscopy) for possible corrosion protection were developed on glass and zinc substrates. The surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS or sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, and SDBS) were added to the chitosan by two methods: mixing the surfactants with the aqueous chitosan solutions before film deposition or impregnating the deposited chitosan films with surfactants from their aqueous solutions. For the mixed coatings, it was found that the lower surface tension of solutions (40-45 mN/m) corresponded to more hydrophobic (80-90°) coatings in every case. The hydrophobicity of the impregnated coatings was especially significant (88° for SDS and 100° for SDBS). Atomic force microscopy studies revealed a slight increase in roughness (max 1.005) for the most hydrophobic coatings. The accumulation of surfactants in the layer was only significant (0.8-1.0 sulfur atomic %) in the impregnated samples according to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Polarization and electron impedance spectroscopy tests confirmed better barrier properties for these samples (40-50% pseudo-porosity instead of 94%). The degree of swelling in a water vapor atmosphere was significantly lower in the case of the impregnated coatings (ca. 25%) than that of the native ones (ca. 75%), measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry. Accordingly, good barrier layer properties require advantageous bulk properties in addition to surface hydrophobicity.

Effects of joint tolerances on thermal bridging in precast concrete shear walls: Field tests and numerical simulations

Prefabricated buildings are gaining momentum due to their ecological benefits, speedy construction, and precision. However, unlike conventional cast-in-place structures, precast concrete shear walls are more susceptible to thermal and quality defects due to inherent tolerances. Four precast concrete shear wall connections prone to thermal bridges were identified through case studies of factories and real projects. Steady-state and dynamic modeling was conducted using determinant and stochastic matrices to assess the impact of joint tolerances on thermal distribution. The effects of joint tolerance magnitude and insulation material properties on linear thermal transmittance were investigated, complemented by a polynomial-based sensitivity analysis. A versatile prediction model was developed, integrating physical modeling and data-driven approaches to quickly quantify the thermal bridges of precast concrete shear wall connections. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between thermal bridges and joint tolerances, leading to extensive low-temperature regions within precast concrete shear walls. In dynamic modeling, joint tolerances contributed to additional heat dissipation, with a peak heat flux of 20.07 W/m. The sensitivity analysis demonstrated that joint tolerances greatly influence the correlation between linear thermal transmittance and insulation layer properties. Leveraging Categorical Boosting and Extreme Gradient Boosting, the prediction of linear thermal transmittance for precast concrete shear wall connections exhibited exceptional accuracy while significantly reducing computational costs. This research aids designers and policymakers by providing rapid and precise linear thermal transmittance calculations, offering valuable guidance for manufacturing prefabricated components to ensure enhanced energy efficiency and sustainability.

Interface strengthening mechanism of TZM/Q235 joint by ultrasonic-assisted electron beam welding with high entropy alloy interlayer

The high-strength joints of TZM/CoCrFeNiMo0.2/Q235 were realized by ultrasonic-assisted electron beam welding. The effects of ultrasonic vibration on the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of the reaction layers were analyzed. A reaction layer with a thickness of >10 μm was observed at the TZM side region. The reaction layer was characterized by columnar Fe2Mo phases growing perpendicular to the fusion line and FCC solid solutions with different grain orientations. Under the action of ultrasonic vibration, the eutectic structure of Fe2Mo phases and FCC solid solutions was evenly distributed in the reaction layer, and the grain orientation of the FCC solid solutions in the reaction layer changed to be the same as that in the fusion zone. Compared with the joint without ultrasonic vibration, the difference of nanoindentation hardness between the Fe2Mo phases and FCC solid solutions and the residual stress inside the reaction layer of the welding joint with an ultrasonic power of 80 W were significantly reduced. The maximum tensile strength of the joints was 318.4 ± 26 MPa, which was 18.9% higher than that of the joint without ultrasonic vibration.

Engineering multi-level structured electrospun nanofiber Janus membrane for direct contact membrane distillation

The membrane distillation (MD) has been considered as an attractive technique for the desalination and water treatments. However, the membrane with the superhydrophobic surface is still urgently needed for the wide application of MD process. Inspired by nature, the membranes with the highly porous structure have been fabricated by electrospinning to enhance the water vapor permeation in MD process. In this work, a hydrophobic layer with the hierarchical reentrant architecture was fabricated by electrostatically depositing silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles on the surface of polyvinylidenefluoride electrosprayed layer followed by the fluorination treatment. The properties of hydrophobic layers were evaluated by varying the electrospraying time and SiO2 loading amount. The optimal membrane had a water contact angle value of 145.7° and surface roughness of ∼275 nm, demonstrating a water flux of 21.2 L.m−2.h−1 and superior salt rejection of >99.9 % when 3.5 wt% NaCl solution was used as the feed solution and the temperature difference was set as 40 °C. The membrane showed an excellent operation stability and effective mitigation in scaling and fouling tendency. The prepared membrane could be applied as a good candidate for the MD-based water treatment processes.

In-Doped ZnO Electron Transport Layer for High-Efficiency Ultrathin Flexible Organic Solar Cells.

Sol-gel processed zinc oxide (ZnO) is one of the most widely used electron transport layers (ETLs) in inverted organic solar cells (OSCs). The high annealing temperature (≈200°C) required for sintering to ensure a high electron mobility however results in severe damage to flexible substrates. Thus, flexible organic solar cells based on sol-gel processed ZnO exhibit significantly lower efficiency than rigid devices. In this paper, an indium-doping approach is developed to improve the optoelectronic properties of ZnO layers and reduce the required annealing temperature. Inverted OSCs based on In-doped ZnO (IZO) exhibit a higher efficiency than those based on ZnO for a range of different active layer systems. For the PM6:L8-BO system, the efficiency increases from 17.0% for the pristine ZnO-based device to 17.8% for the IZO-based device. The IZO-based device with an active layer of PM6:L8-BO:BTP-eC9 exhibits an even higher efficiency of up to 18.1%. In addition, a 1.2-micrometer-thick inverted ultrathin flexible organic solar cell is fabricated based on the IZO ETL that achieves an efficiency of 17.0% with a power-per-weight ratio of 40.4Wg-1, which is one of the highest efficiency for ultrathin (less than 10 micrometers) flexible organic solar cells.

Mitigating Delamination in Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Solar Modules

As perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells head toward industrialization, one emerging challenge relates to the mechanical reliability of these organic–inorganic multilayer devices. Herein, the fracture toughness and interfacial strength of monolithic p–i–n perovskite/silicon tandems are assessed in the context of module integration. While the weakest layer in the tandem stack investigated is found to be C60, used here as electron‐transport layer (interfacial tensile strength of 0.64 MPa), more concerningly, the fracture energy of the C60/tin‐oxide interface is found to be only 1.2 J m−2. The low fracture toughness of perovskite/silicon tandems can encourage crack propagation and large‐scale delamination during processes used for their integration into modules such as cell cutting, interconnection, and vacuum lamination. By improving the tin oxide buffer layer properties and reducing sputtering‐induced internal stress (associated with the transparent top electrode deposition onto the tin the oxide buffer layer), the fracture energy is improved to over 160 J m−2. A second strategy to mitigate delamination due to the low fracture toughness of the cells is tailoring encapsulation and cell processing techniques specifically toward the perovskite/silicon tandem technology. In this work, a critical reliability issue, relevant for any perovskite‐based optoelectronic technology requiring device packaging, is addressed.

Spatially distributed atmospheric boundary layer properties in Houston – A value-added observational dataset

In 2022, Houston, TX became a nexus for field campaigns aiming to further our understanding of the feedbacks between convective clouds, aerosols and atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) properties. Houston’s proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Bay motivated the collection of spatially distributed observations to disentangle coastal and urban processes. This paper presents a value-added ABL dataset derived from observations collected by eight research teams over 46 days between 2 June - 18 September 2022. The dataset spans 14 sites distributed within a ~80-km radius around Houston. Measurements from three types of instruments are analyzed to objectively provide estimates of nine ABL parameters, both thermodynamic (potential temperature, and relative humidity profiles and thermodynamic ABL depth) and dynamic (horizontal wind speed and direction, mean vertical velocity, updraft and downdraft speed profiles, and dynamical ABL depth). Contextual information about cloud occurrence is also provided. The dataset is prepared on a uniform time-height grid of 1 h and 30 m resolution to facilitate its use as a benchmark for forthcoming numerical simulations and the fundamental study of atmospheric processes.

Modification of morphological, structural and optical properties of graphene oxide by alteration molarity of aqueous KMnO4 solution

This work reports a nontraditional modified Hummer’s method to synthesize graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets by adjusting the oxidation process via a different-molarity potassium permanganate (KMnO4) solution instead of utilizing its powder. The effect of KMnO4 concentrations on the structural and morphological properties of GO nanosheets was studied. Oxidant solutions of 0.5 M, 1 M and 1.5 M were experimented to control the properties of the GO layers. Then, the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), Raman and ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopes. Finally, oxidant concentration was optimized at 1 M by which thinner, high-quality crystalline GO layers and wider bandgap energy ( E g ) were obtained. It is thus confirmed that such a modification in the oxidation is a pioneering process to improve the GO properties.